Published at 3rd of November 2026 6:32 am

Chapter 1273: The Emperor’s Announcement [Super Gift Bonus Chapter ]

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

As the Soldiers were jailed, before the residents gathered at the Capital City could leave, the Commander of the Imperial Knights appeared in the sky.

His lips parted as he spoke, using Astra Energy to amplify his voice so that everyone across the Empire could hear him loud and clear.

"ATTENTION, CITIZENS OF THE GREAT ZARETHORNE EMPIRE!"

He began to speak, his voice authoritative, his presence commanding the attention of everyone below and beyond.

"I AM THE COMMANDER OF THE IMPERIAL KNIGHTS, PROTECTOR OF HIS MAJESTY, THE EMPEROR. AND I HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO READ OUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL CITIZENS OF THE ZARETHORNE EMPIRE."

At the Commander’s words, citizens across the entire Zarethorne Empire paused in their movements, their heads snapping upwards to see who was speaking. Their eyes landed on the Knight as he floated in the sky, his cape dancing behind him.

They couldn’t make out his face, as the sun hanging in the sky partially obstructed their vision, forcing them to shield their eyes with their hands. Regardless, they listened with rapt attention. After all, this was an announcement from the Emperor himself.

Besides, they were all curious about what the Emperor had to say following the recent bloodshed. Many parents were already anxious that their children might be among the dead, while many children were also panicking at the possibility that their parents had kicked the bucket in this war.

The Commander took out a golden-red scroll, unfurled it, and began to read from it.

"CITIZENS OF THE GREAT ZARETHORNE EMPIRE, WE HAVE SUFFERED AN IMMENSE LOSS, AND I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEGLIGENCE AND CALAMITY THAT HAVE BEFALLEN OUR GREAT EMPIRE. THE VELKARIN EMPIRE HAS INVADED OUR PEACEFUL AND LOVING EMPIRE, TAKING CHILDREN, FATHERS, MOTHERS, AND GRANDPARENTS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, THEREBY TEARING FAMILIES APART FOREVER."

The Imperial Knight Commander paused as he spoke, not rushing his words, as he wanted everyone to comprehend the Emperor’s message, regardless of how slowly they might process it.

"BUT WHILE I MAY BE A MERCIFUL EMPEROR TO MY PEOPLE, I AM NOT SO MERCIFUL TOWARDS OUR ENEMIES. HENCE, FIVE HOURS FROM THE TIME OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THE FATE OF THE VELKARIAN SOLDIERS WHO DARED TO MARCH INTO OUR LANDS WILL BE BROADCAST TO YOU ALL. YOU WILL GET YOUR ANSWERS, YOU WILL GET YOUR REVENGE, AND THE VELKARIN EMPIRE SHALL PAY!"

The Imperial Knight Commander paused once more before declaring with calm finality.

"THIS I PROMISE IN MY CAPACITY AS EMPEROR, IN MY NAME AS ZOLTHEMIRE VOL VANTHELMOR, AS A FATHER, AS A HUSBAND, AND AS A SON. SEE YOU ALL IN FIVE HOURS."

Having finished reading the Imperial announcement, the Imperial Knight Commander closed the scroll, which vanished into his space ring. He met the gazes of the people and nodded at them before vanishing in a streak of light.

The moment he disappeared, the entire Empire erupted into a cacophony of noise, with people shedding tears of mild relief that the Emperor was at least going to exact revenge on their behalf.

Many began speculating about what the Emperor intended to do to the people of the Velkarin Empire. Some argued that he was going to wipe out all the captives from the Velkarin Empire, while others claimed that such an act would be too extreme and simply impossible.

They cited the fact that there were millions of captives and questioned how long it would take to kill all those people. Not only that, there was also the fact that the Velkarin Empire wouldn’t simply sit still and watch millions of its own people being wiped out during a live broadcast.

Some argued that the Emperor would simply have one or two limbs removed, while others countered that the Velkarin Empire could simply regenerate them when the two Empires exchanged prisoners of war.

However, another person argued that the resources required to heal millions of Soldiers would be far too great and that old, scarred injuries couldn’t simply be healed by some random healer.

All in all, everyone looked forward to the broadcast. They wondered what the Emperor planned to do, and they hoped he would deliver a suitably severe punishment to the captives so that no Empire would dare invade them without thinking it over at least ten times.

The five-hour countdown began, and the citizens stared at the sky, waiting for the broadcast to begin. Not a single one of them wanted to miss even a second of it.

Within the Capital City, the Imperial Knights had begun constructing the stage where the spectacle would take place. Various carpenters stepped forward, their hammers striking nails as they worked together in unison.

Various people gathered to watch, with some men offering a helping hand in carrying the planks and timber so that everything could be completed faster and, if possible, the show could begin ahead of schedule.

Within the Imperial Palace, Zolthemire could be seen sitting on his throne with a deep frown on his face. He had lost so much within the span of two years. First, it had been the Vandross Empire, whose forces had invaded his Empire as bandits, launching attacks against eight Noble Territories simultaneously.

Then, the following year, which was the current year, the Velkarian Soldiers had launched their own invasion and started a war.

What would happen in the next four months, which would bring them into the following year? Would the Thalvorn Empire launch its own attacks as well? Was everyone targeting them now? Was the Zarethorne Empire really so easy to target?

The door to his throne room creaked open as his butler stepped inside with graceful movements. Approaching the throne, the butler bowed before speaking.

"Your Majesty, all the Nobles have gathered in the meeting room in accordance with your Imperial Order."

He stated this before slowly rising to his feet.

Zolthemire nodded. He had called for an urgent meeting after instructing the Nobles to investigate and uncover whatever information they could regarding the infiltration. They needed answers. After all, something of this magnitude couldn’t happen and simply be brushed aside.

"Inform them that I will be there in ten minutes."

Zolthemire replied with a calm expression.

"As His Majesty orders."

The butler bowed once more, then turned and walked away, heading towards the door.

As the door closed behind the butler, Emperor Zolthemire spoke without turning towards any particular direction.

"Can you stop hiding already, Father?"

His tone was flat as he sighed tiredly.

At his words, a frail old man appeared beside him. He was none other than Cyrvexis.

As Cyrvexis appeared, Zolthemire turned towards his father and spoke.

"Are you here to berate me again and call me the greatest stain on your legacy? Because I’ve already got that part memorized."

His tone was expectant, as he had already predicted the direction this discussion would take.

Cyrvexis walked down the small flight of stairs as he spoke.

"Since you already know, I don’t need to say it, do I?"

His tone was utterly indifferent, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Although I would love to spend hours educating you on how to become a better Emperor, I’m far more interested in how you plan to respond to what the Velkarin Empire has done, especially that fool called Horace."

He continued, his eyes turning cold. Even though he was no longer the Emperor, he couldn’t simply sit back and watch his people get massacred.

Not after building this Empire to its current level through centuries of hard work.

He wouldn’t let anyone burn it down, not his incompetent son nor the man who was blind to reason and logic, known as Horace.

_______

Bonus Chapter sponsored by _LordOfNothing.

And with this, the bonus Chapters sponsored by LordOfNothing comes to an end.

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